The Washington-based
Cato Institute is all about "Individual Liberty, Free Markets,
and Peace," or so says its web site. It's been around since 1977
preaching limited government and free market religion with plenty
of high-octane corporate funding for backing. It better have it for
the award it presented on May 15. It was to a 23 year old fifth year
Venezuelan law student at Universidad Catolica Andres Bello. Yon Goicoechea
was the fourth recipient of the "Milton Friedman Liberty Prize"
in the amount of $500,000. For what? What else. For serving the interests
of capital back home and leading anti-Chavista protests.

Goicoechea
is leader of Venezuela's "pro-democracy student movement"
that in Cato's words "prevented Hugo Chavez's regime from seizing
broad dictatorial powers in December 2007." The reference is
to the narrow defeat of Venezuela's reform referendum last December.
Goicoechea led student-organized street violence against Venezuela's
democracy, but don't look for Cato to say that.

It played
up Goicoechea's "pivotal role in organizing and voicing opposition
to the erosion of human and civil rights in his country (that) would
have concentrated unprecendented political and economic power in the
hands of the government." Instead, he chooses "tolerance"
and the "human right to seek prosperity." He's been active
since student and other opposition emerged against the Chavez government's
refusal (with ample justification) to renew RCTV's VHF operating license
last May.

Then, and
in the run-up to last December's referendum, Cato says he stood down
"ongoing death threats and continual intimidation due to his
prominent and vocal leadership." He's been "indispensable
in organizing massive, peaceful protest marches that have captured
the world's attention." In fact, there were no death threats
but plenty of hard right intimidation targeting Chavistas with tools
like Goicoechea a part of it.

Cato founder
and president Edward Crane said "We hope the Friedman Prize will
help further his non-violent advocacy for basic freedoms in an increasingly
militaristic and anti-democratic Venezuela." Far right novelist
Mario Vargas Llosa added that "freedom is disappearing"
in Venezuela, and "Goicoechea is a symbol of (a) democratic reaction
when (it's) threatened."

Goicoechea
received his award at a $500 a plate dinner at New York's Waldorf
Astoria. Prominent corporate and government types attended, all representing
far right interests. None explain how Bolivarianism works, its participatory
democracy, its commitment to Venezuela's people, or how it's lifted
millions in the country out of desperate poverty. Nor is there comment
on a model process, impressive social reforms, supremely democratic
elections, or Hugo Chavez's immense popularity. An April 24 - May
2 Venezuela Data Analysis Institute (IVAD) poll puts him at 68.8%.
That compares to comparable George Bush ones with some of the lowest
ratings ever for a US president.

No discussion
either of how student opposition is funded or for what purpose. That
their money comes from US agencies like the misnamed National Endowment
for Democracy, USAID, the International Republican Institute, and
other pro-business US and international agencies and organizations.
CIA's part of it, too.

Highlighted
are Goicoechea's plans with the money - to challenge Bolivarianism
back home and work to subvert it. With those ideas and Cato's backing,
he's sure to remain a hard right favorite. He'll also be busy and
well-compensated - for more destabilization against the most democratic
government in the hemisphere. That's what Goicoecheas are for - to
sabotage democracy, subvert equity and justice, topple populist governments,
and make Venezuela "friendlier" for business.

Goicoechea
now heads home fully briefed for his role, but don't expect Cato to
explain it. It's to support capital's divine right, privilege over
beneficial social change, and the rights of the few over the many.
It's to mobilize indignation against a leader who works for all Venezuelans,
especially those in greatest need. Who uses his country's oil wealth
for his people, not elitist business interests. For having a Constitution
that mandates it. For gaining overwhelming popular support and becoming
a hero to millions. For wanting others to share in what Venezuelans
have. For believing all people matter, not just the privileged. For
becoming the greatest of all threats to the empire (and Cato) determined
to stop him. For failing so far. For seeing him gain strength and
stature. For securing grassroots allies everywhere. For needing many
Goicoecheas to oppose him, but not nearly enough to prevail.

His "non-violent
advocacy" and "peaceful" protesting went like this
- promoting class warfare; wanting Chavez toppled; and following CIA
diktats to:

-- "take
to the streets; protest with violent disruptive actions across the
nation; create a climate of ungovernability; provoke a general uprising;
isolate Chavez" internationally; destabilize the government;
disrupt the constitutional process; sustain aggressive agitprop; build
unity among the opposition; and end Chavismo and Bolivarianism so
capital can get back in control.

Last year,
Goicoechea responded by engaging in violent street clashes; targeting
pro-Chavez students, police and the National Guard; smashing windows;
turning over and setting cars alight; starting other fires; burning
tires; throwing rocks and bottles; engaging in a shootout at Caracas'
Central University; seeing Venezuela's business media report "peaceful,
civic and democratic" students were attacked without provocation;
and getting full US (and Cato) backing for all of the above.

Like others
of his class, Goicoechea enjoys privilege and wants to keep it. He's
also unwilling to share it, and he puts it this way: "We have
to fight for our future, for our rights," and you know whose
he means. "If we don't fight for our freedoms, we won't be able
to take part in a democratic Venezuela in the future." He means
democracy for the few like in pre-Chavez days.

Gabriela
Calderon shares that view as editor of ElCato.org, Cato's Spanish
language website. She's young, well-educated, anti-Chavez, and also
against Bolivarianism's spread to her native country of Ecuador. Cato
says she's a "frontline" warrior in "the struggle against
Hugo Chavez's '21st century socialism,' which is threatening to engulf
all of Latin America." She, in turn, calls populists like Chavez
and Ecuador's President Raphael Correa "the reactionary right"
for in Cato's words: "pushing for greater state control over
the economy and people's lives. By contrast, she - and ElCato.org
- advocates for individual freedom." That means privatizing everything,
favoring property over people, privilege over the needy, crowding
out dissent, and getting well-rewarded for supporting all of the above.

These are
imperial interests. Youths like Goicoechea and Calderon are its tools,
and organizations like Cato are front and center supporting them.
It's bankrolled by business, given clear marching orders, and they're
full of high-octane markets uber alles religion. But in the spirit
of "Individual Liberty, Free Markets, and Peace." Orwell
would approve.

Stephen
Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

Also visit
his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen
to The Global Research News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Mondays
from 11AM - 1PM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with
distinguished guests. All programs are archived for easy listening.

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